The Great Lakes are facing a significant threat from pollution, climate change, and other factors. That's why the EPA is stepping up its protection of the lakes, declared a national treasure in 2004, to keep them safe from dangers such as poisonous red algae blooms. The EPA unveiled the second half of its plan to restore the Great Lakes yesterday, Sept. 24.
The EPA began the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) four years ago, in 2010. The Great Lakes make up a huge ecosystem, which has suffered the effects of unusually bad red algae blooms and changing climate in years past. The EPA hopes to target the main harmful factors over the next five years.
One of the big differences between the second phase of the GLRI Action Plan and the first phase is the addition of a science-based action plan. The EPA is planning to scientifically determine the biggest threats to the ecosystem, and prioritize those using the resources it has. The team hopes to effect change in these five years that will produce larger beneficial changes to the ecosystem in years to come. The EPA also has added a plan to measure the efficacy of the GLRI plan at the end of the five years, and to identify any remaining problems that should be targeted in the future.
"In a very large ecosystem like the Great Lakes, it's difficult to measure progress on a yearly scale, or even a five-year scale. But we've been able to accelerate cleanups, accelerate restoration and move the process forward in ways that in the past were unimaginable," said Susan Hedman, a regional director of the EPA.
The GLRI plan is addressing some major concerns with the Great Lakes. Efforts to restore the lakes began in the 1970s, but the lakes were in pretty poor shape throughout the 1980s. The GLRI plan seeks to rectify some concerns which were first raised in 1987.
Climate change is also a component of the new action plan: the EPA has asked every agency involved to incorporate resistance to climate change into its plan. For example, new wetlands constructed will have to include plants that can survive warmer climates.
"Five or 10 years ago, cities were talking about developing climate action plans, but now it seems the smart money has moved beyond that and into building climate resilience. It has to be integrated into every part of the work," said Joel Brammeier, CEO of the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
